WARSAW – It became quite a showcase game for the Warsaw Tigers football team. Getting a plus-effort from all three phases of the game, Warsaw took control and crushed Columbia City, 27-3, in the week one opener.

Warsaw quarterback Michael Jensen finds room to scramble against Columbia City. (Photos by Mike Deak)

“We played well in all three phases in the first half, but we also made some mistakes that kind of shot ourselves in the foot,” said Warsaw head coach Phil Jensen. “Regrouped in the second half, I thought things went a lot better.

“They are a good football team. They play hard and their numbers are getting better. (Columbia City head) Coach Fox is a good coach and this is a good win for us.”

The fiery Jensen couldn’t help but sit back at times and enjoy the execution by his squad. Warsaw scored on two of its first three possessions, and did so almost in the exact same way. After an offsides penalty by Columbia City on a field goal attempt gave Warsaw a new set of downs, quarterback Michael Jensen sprinted down to the one. Will McGarvey punched it in from there, and it was 7-0 not even four minutes into the game.

After a pair of Columbia City punts, Warsaw again drove down inside the Columbia City 10, where McGarvey took nearly half a dozen handoffs before pounding in the one-yarder for a 14-0 lead.

Warsaw running back Will McGarvey scored three touchdowns against City.

McGarvey would add a third touchdown on a magnificent 42-yard run just seconds into the fourth quarter. The sophomore back, who was the beneficiary of Columbia City’s sellout to defend the multitude of Tiger receivers, finished the night with 16 carries for 91 yards.

Warsaw scored its other touchdown in a vintage reward to what the spread is supposed to produce for offenses. Receiver Riley Rhoades broke open unmanned across the middle and had no one within five feet of him to haul in a 19-yard touchdown pass from Jensen.

Rhoades led all receivers with six catches for 71 yards, including a key conversion on third down that kept the drive alive for McGarvey to bust off his long touchdown run.

Jensen finished his night just 13-for-25 for 151 yards, but looked very much in control of the offense for much of the first half. In all, the Tigers rang up 325 total yards.

Coach Jensen, however, boasted about his defense. And why not.

Riley Rhoades pulls down a 19-yard touchdown pass.

“Our defensive front guys are moving well and then the nice linebackers behind them,” Jensen said. “We are trying to get things going sideways because we feel like we can run them down, which we showed tonight.”

Dylan Childers had an opening act to remember, registering 15 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and two sacks in an equal opportunity menace to the Eagles. Ross Armey had 2.5 tackles for loss and four tackles overall and defensive back Josh Malagon picked off a pair of Columbia City passes. Both picks came on Columbia City drives on Warsaw’s half of the field.

City punched its only points on the board on its opening drive of the second half. Taking the kick-off into Warsaw territory, the Eagles stalled at the Warsaw 21, leaving Cory Behm a 38-yard field goal.

The Eagles mustered just 152 total yards of offense and were held to just 88 rushing yards on 44 carries.

“I’m just impressed with the way they moved up front,” stated Fox. “The key was that we weren’t able to cover their line, and the backside pressure was catching up to us. We have to be able to block both on the back and front sides, and today we didn’t. It was really hard to get much going against that defense. They have some superior athletes.”

Warsaw will head to East Noble next week for what could be an explosive night of offense. Columbia City will battle Whitko for bragging rights of Whitley County.

Keegan Bays (75) and a host of Tiger defenders swarm Columbia City running back Carson Reed. The Eagles averaged just two yards per carry against the Tigers.